Diners Club [various countries] linking free lounge access to transaction volume
Apr 11, 2012, 6:28 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Hong Kong SAR
Programs: JL Diamond, CX Gold, HH Gold
Posts: 270
Diners Club [various countries] linking free lounge access to transaction volume
I am always a reader to the flyertalk and this is actually the first time for me to post - so nice to meet you all flyertalk community 
I have just confirmed with Citibank Hong Kong (issuing authority for Diners Club Cards in Hong Kong) that all complimentary lounge accesses have gone. Accessing any lounge worldwide would carry "at least" US$25 access fees, upto US$75; accessing the local airport lounge would require a HK$1,500 (~US$200) spending per visit, otherwise they will charge US$25 access fee per visit. Citibank Hong Kong insisted that they are not the first site for removing the free overseas lounge accesses.
I have been a Diners Club card holder for a couple of years. Though I can't find any places to use the card in Hong Kong, it is fascinating that using the club in Taiwan and Japan always bringing me a lot of surprises. (To my surprise, if I am not wrong Citibank Taiwan has started to offer class upgrades for designated flights for Diners Club Card Taiwan Holders.) Moreover, it is the primary card for me to access airport lounges.
Too bad I don't have enough income for applying credit cards come with priority pass or other lounge access privileges - yet I fly frequent with the local bargain airlines...
Basically I cannot find anymore reasons to hold this card. Before cutting this card, I am wondering if Citibank HK is speaking the truth...
Does any DC holders in other parts of the world have to pay for lounge access?
Thank you.
I have just confirmed with Citibank Hong Kong (issuing authority for Diners Club Cards in Hong Kong) that all complimentary lounge accesses have gone. Accessing any lounge worldwide would carry "at least" US$25 access fees, upto US$75; accessing the local airport lounge would require a HK$1,500 (~US$200) spending per visit, otherwise they will charge US$25 access fee per visit. Citibank Hong Kong insisted that they are not the first site for removing the free overseas lounge accesses.
I have been a Diners Club card holder for a couple of years. Though I can't find any places to use the card in Hong Kong, it is fascinating that using the club in Taiwan and Japan always bringing me a lot of surprises. (To my surprise, if I am not wrong Citibank Taiwan has started to offer class upgrades for designated flights for Diners Club Card Taiwan Holders.) Moreover, it is the primary card for me to access airport lounges.
Too bad I don't have enough income for applying credit cards come with priority pass or other lounge access privileges - yet I fly frequent with the local bargain airlines...
Basically I cannot find anymore reasons to hold this card. Before cutting this card, I am wondering if Citibank HK is speaking the truth...
Does any DC holders in other parts of the world have to pay for lounge access?
Thank you.
Apr 11, 2012, 9:27 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AMEX AC CX UA AA DL
Posts: 3,008
https://www.dinersclubcanada.com/hom...irport-lounges
"Access to most of our Airport Lounges is free to Diners Club Cardmembers, however some locations may require a fee for Cardmembers or any guests."
"Access to most of our Airport Lounges is free to Diners Club Cardmembers, however some locations may require a fee for Cardmembers or any guests."
Apr 11, 2012, 10:08 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Hong Kong SAR
Programs: JL Diamond, CX Gold, HH Gold
Posts: 270
https://www.dinersclubcanada.com/hom...irport-lounges
"Access to most of our Airport Lounges is free to Diners Club Cardmembers, however some locations may require a fee for Cardmembers or any guests."
"Access to most of our Airport Lounges is free to Diners Club Cardmembers, however some locations may require a fee for Cardmembers or any guests."
Hm a few Taiwanese friends told me that they have no problems using DC to enjoy free lounges as well.
I forgot to attach the terms for Hong Kong DC
http://www.citibank.com.hk/english/c...privileges.htm
Terms and Conditions for Complimentary Access to the Airport Lounge
2.
Diners Club® Cardmember can also access to over 450 Club Lounges located in airports worldwide outside Hong Kong and a fee of HK$200 or US$25 will be charged per visit. Please visit www.dinersclub.com for details.
3.
Diners Club® Cardmember can enjoy one complimentary service per visit per day if the Cardmember's accumulated spending with Diners Club® Card is HK$1,500 or more during the calendar month or the consecutive one calendar month after the Cardmember access the airport lounge. If the specified amount is not reached, the Cardmember can continue to enjoy the airport lounge access for HK$200 per visit. The charge of HK$200 will be debited from Cardmember's account directly. Patronage of extra service is subject to respective entrance/service fee to be charged to Cardmember's account. A fee may be charged to enter selected locations. Admission for guests will be charged at HK$200 per person per visit. Valid Diners Club® Card spendings include all posted retail purchase, autopay transaction, billed interested-free monthly installment payment, cash advances transaction and posted cash amount from "Dial-a-check" Valid spendings exclude (but not limited to) traveler's checks, balance transfers, bank fees & charges (including annual fees, finance charges, late charges, cash advance fees and other fees and charges), unposted installments, casino transactions, unposted/cancelled/refunded transactions and other unauthorized transactions. Both Basic and Supplementary cards spending will be counted as accumulated spending.
2.
Diners Club® Cardmember can also access to over 450 Club Lounges located in airports worldwide outside Hong Kong and a fee of HK$200 or US$25 will be charged per visit. Please visit www.dinersclub.com for details.
3.
Diners Club® Cardmember can enjoy one complimentary service per visit per day if the Cardmember's accumulated spending with Diners Club® Card is HK$1,500 or more during the calendar month or the consecutive one calendar month after the Cardmember access the airport lounge. If the specified amount is not reached, the Cardmember can continue to enjoy the airport lounge access for HK$200 per visit. The charge of HK$200 will be debited from Cardmember's account directly. Patronage of extra service is subject to respective entrance/service fee to be charged to Cardmember's account. A fee may be charged to enter selected locations. Admission for guests will be charged at HK$200 per person per visit. Valid Diners Club® Card spendings include all posted retail purchase, autopay transaction, billed interested-free monthly installment payment, cash advances transaction and posted cash amount from "Dial-a-check" Valid spendings exclude (but not limited to) traveler's checks, balance transfers, bank fees & charges (including annual fees, finance charges, late charges, cash advance fees and other fees and charges), unposted installments, casino transactions, unposted/cancelled/refunded transactions and other unauthorized transactions. Both Basic and Supplementary cards spending will be counted as accumulated spending.
Apr 11, 2012, 10:55 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AMEX AC CX UA AA DL
Posts: 3,008
Oh I have seen/heard about the accumulation of purchases for lounge access on this forum, for cards issued in some countries.
But your card still offers unlimited access of the lounges at HKG.
Do you pay any annual fees? The Canadian card charges 99CAD.
But your card still offers unlimited access of the lounges at HKG.
Do you pay any annual fees? The Canadian card charges 99CAD.
Last edited by beep88; Apr 11, 2012 at 11:06 am
Apr 12, 2012, 11:42 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Hong Kong SAR
Programs: JL Diamond, CX Gold, HH Gold
Posts: 270
The customer services confirmed one visit per HK$1,500 spending, or they will charge US$200. For annual fee, yes for once (HK$650 around US$85 you can say) and they automatically waived the subsequent years after I reached the spending criteria overseas.
Apr 13, 2012, 6:57 am
#6
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Copenhagen
Programs: EBS
Posts: 729
It started this New Year in Scandinavia.
One of the reasons I was told, was that many customers only kept the card to have access to the lounges.
Because, they did not use the card for purchase it was adeficits business for Diners Scandinavia.
Well for every 10000 DKK you spent on the card in a year, we still have 1 free lounge access the following year. It is only 833 DKK every month.
I think it is fair enough.
Now I think it might will be rolled out in all their markets, step by step?
One of the reasons I was told, was that many customers only kept the card to have access to the lounges.
Because, they did not use the card for purchase it was adeficits business for Diners Scandinavia.
Well for every 10000 DKK you spent on the card in a year, we still have 1 free lounge access the following year. It is only 833 DKK every month.
I think it is fair enough.
Now I think it might will be rolled out in all their markets, step by step?
Apr 13, 2012, 10:42 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
So in HKG or ARN or HEL or CPH or OSL, if anywhere you're flying you're likely to be in the terminal where the DC lounge is, then DC is going to get a lot of lounge access for people based in those countries, while very little for people based in countries like the US with everyone flying out of a different airport and many major airports being fragmented into airline-specific terminals.
So I think this restriction is more likely in countries where there's easy access to a DC lounger at the main airport in the o....ry for most flyers at that airport, but less likely in countries where most people don't get access to a lounge in the own country rarely if ever.
(Being based at LAX, I've never yet been in a situation where I've had access to a DC lounge domestically in the terminal I was in. It's always on some other continent.)
Apr 13, 2012, 1:05 pm
#8
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: The Baltic Sea
Programs: AY, BT, DY and SK. Scandic, Radisson, Marriott and HHonors. ClubONE
Posts: 5,890
Just to make it clear: HEL and OSL do not have a DC lounge at all. (Still Norwegians have to pay for lounge access...)
Apr 13, 2012, 4:16 pm
#9
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Copenhagen
Programs: EBS
Posts: 729
Apr 28, 2012, 7:05 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Plat, 1 MM; SPG LT Plat (RIP); Marriott LT Titanium; Fairmont Plat (RIP), DL Kryptonium Medallion
Posts: 1,791
Not to get too far off track, but does DC actually disclose all the details anywhere? There are references to "some cardholders" and "some lounges" ... why can't they provide the details? Why are they not obliged to provide those details?
Apr 28, 2012, 10:08 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: The Baltic Sea
Programs: AY, BT, DY and SK. Scandic, Radisson, Marriott and HHonors. ClubONE
Posts: 5,890
May 3, 2012, 1:04 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AMEX AC CX UA AA DL
Posts: 3,008
And lounges are independently owned/operated by 3rd parties who may (and did, in my experience) refuse entry even though those lounges are listed on the diners club website.
Aug 28, 2012, 5:06 am
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Hong Kong SAR
Programs: JL Diamond, CX Gold, HH Gold
Posts: 270
Official From Citibank Hong Kong:
With effect from September 1, 2012 ("Effective Date"), the complimentary access to Club Lounges located in airports worldwide outside of Hong Kong will be discontinued for all Diners Club? Cardmembers ("Cardmembers")1. Cardmembers shall pay HK$200 or US$25 per service per visit on and after the Effective Date for using the overseas Club Lounges2.
Nov 19, 2012, 12:50 am
#15
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: YXY
Posts: 3,506
DC Austria reduces Lounge Access
Holders of Diners Club cards issued in Austria are facing severe restrictions for lounge access: Lounge visits will only be free if the account shows a volume of 3.600 Euro within the 365 days before. Otherwise a fee of 20 Euro will be charged.
The new policy kicks in Dec 1.
Note that DC adds the spending of the primary card holder and secondary cards of the same account together when calculating the 3.600 Euro spending requirement. However, with some very popular co-branded DC cards, secondary cards are not available (or only at a fee that is much higher than for the primary card).
The new policy kicks in Dec 1.
Note that DC adds the spending of the primary card holder and secondary cards of the same account together when calculating the 3.600 Euro spending requirement. However, with some very popular co-branded DC cards, secondary cards are not available (or only at a fee that is much higher than for the primary card).
Last edited by sokolov; Nov 19, 2012 at 1:30 am